ILM's Top 77 Albums of 2019

Utility is lovely. I like what Moodles said about how removing the kicks brings a lot of the details to the forefront

I'm glad to see Sacred Paws show up on here. They didn't quite make my list, but I listened to them a lot. I enjoy their songs whenever they come on, but they rarely stick with me or compel me to listen more.

The Sampa album win me over bit by bit, but wow, it's long

Is the lady on The National album cover dreaming about sashimi?

Also, did The National somehow get more tuneful and melodic, or am I just imagining it?

Yay, I voted for Sacred Paws! Very fun jangle-pop sort of stuff, "Brush Your Hair" was a standout track for me.

After hearing Brush Your Hair (which is fine) I wasn't tempted to listen to the SACRED PAWS album as it sounded so similar to the last one. Not that that's a bad thing, but the sound was indistinguishable

Kinda chuffed that 4 things I voted for have made it already. But then I remember that ILM polls are usually like this for me. All but Rapsody would apparently have been outside the 77 without my (unweighted) points, and #56 to #27 will inevitably be a complete mystery to me. LOL.

The Matana Roberts was really satisfying and pleasurable, an album that I expect i would be able to keep finding new things in for a while. I have Coin Coin 2 and really loved her live show in 2013 but I dragged on actually taking the time to listen to this one, weirdly, because I knew it would be good. I'm glad the poll gave me a reason to do so,

listening to the clipping album and oh they're not doing noise-rap anymore

sounds like theater!

nevermind there's still some noise for sure it just opens surprisingly conservative compared to what i'd heard in the past for them

la mala ordina gets shall we say a tetch noisy

nevermind there's still some noise for sure it just opens surprisingly conservative compared to what i'd heard in the past for them

Yeah I'm feeling this. I gave it a quick listen through and enjoyed it (it's the only thing from today that's on my long list) but it seemed a lot more subdued compared to CLPPNG.

maybe my one criticism is that a lot of their tracks are roughly the same tempo

Tbh the idea of 'noise rap' was so unappealing that I've ignored Clipping altogether so these comments actually make me want to check them out.

^ yep. And I think the earlier stuff I heard was 'noise rap'. Much as I like noise (and rap), they don't sound like two flavours that go together

Nothing too loathsome so far except for that National album (and I like Alligator and Boxer for the most part, maybe because the more minimal rock setup helps undercut their unavowed crooner-isms). And I'm glad to see so much love for clipping. and (especially) Matana Roberts.

National is an odd one, for me. Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers is probably my favourite of theirs, I saw them on that tour too and they were brilliantly unhinged and raw. But that's 17 years ago (wow). The more they "perfected" their sound and lost the rough edges, the more uninteresting it became for me. Trouble Will Find Me is the last album I know and enjoyed. After that I was just saturated I think. The bombastic, over-the-top, singer-goes-through-the-crowd-every-concert last tour I saw them - which everyone around me absolutely *loved* - was too big and too Bono for me. I wish them well but am content never to hear new work from them ever again. I 'grew out of' them or something. (I've this with more bands)

Yeah, that resonates with my experience (minus the live part, as I've never seen them in person).

their latest is pretty easily their best, i voted for it. id always found them enjoyable but never quite capable of a really good album until now

at the very least, "you had your soul with you" is their best ever song

I should have voted for that The National album, the first ones of theirs I've really liked. But it is too long to me, and ends up feeling a bit shapeless. You had your soul with you is a great song, yeah.

Listening to Sacred Paws now, this is fun! Is the last one better?

don't know about better but I really liked it. Much the same vibe AFAICT. I wonder how they work live, being only a duo? They're incredible musicians

Sampa album has been in turns frustrating and compelling - there's obviously something there - but I was only able to hear half of it on my commute in as it's 77 minutes long. Guess I'll give the second half a go now

(Sacred Paws have always irritated the hell out of me tbh but that's probably my problem, maybe this one's better?)

it took me a while to get into the sampa album because of how long and dense it is but it was really rewarding once it opened up for me

both sacred paws albums are equally good i think but if you didn't like the last i doubt this will convert you. they've played shows as both a duo and with an expanded lineup. the second album certainly has more overdubs but it's still easy to imagine how they could reduce the songs down to the basic single guitar & drums setup if needed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDR_gvNp46c

man i really should have voted for "the conversation" in the tracks poll at least, it's so great

their type of vocal interplay is one of my favourite things in the world, kinda like early R.E.M. at their peak

fwiw if you want more young-woman-returns-to-interrogate-her-Zambian-roots content, the movie I Am Not A Witch is one of my favourites of recent years - cultural collision played as unsettling surrealist comedy

Well anyway that was quite good and entirely too long, could have easily ended at Brand New or sooner. A pleasant and interesting experience on a fairly baffling scale

Did any other DJ Kicks place in previous years? I know some are 'higher concept' than others

― nashwan, Monday, February 3, 2020 2:44 PM (yesterday)

Moodymann definitely. Maybe Erland Oye back in the day?

I didn't get around to the Sacred Paws album properly so couldn't vote for it, but I saw them play in support of it and the show was surprisingly special - I think of them as Rachel's light and frivolous band but this one was really affecting.

(New Shopping LP out soon for Aggs fans btw)

oh i didn't realise Shopping and SACRED PAWS were the same people

The Sacred Paws album doesn't break any new ground from the first one. If you didn't like the first, the new one probably won't change your mind. I do think this new one is a bit stronger though, more lively and energetic.

only the same frontperson xp

See also: Trash Kit.

This Sacred Paws album doesn't quite have the fizz of the previous one but they're still just... kinda great to have around? Especially when the sun's out.

Whenever I hear Sacred Paws I can imagine them popping up to perform in the middle of a Young Ones episode.

'Oh for crying out loud Neil, Brush Your Hair!!'

https://i.imgur.com/wYnCmQH.jpg
#60 – ANDY STOTT – It Should Be Us (214 points, 9 votes)

Andy Stott
https://www.allmusic.com/album/it-should-be-us-mw0003333898

graphics!

the zebra centipede

Very much looking forward to hearing this, having loved most of his previous albums, just haven't gotten around to it yet. Nine votes is heartening!

Have been listening to this album a LOT lately. Possibly his best?

didn't really get into this one depsite enjoying stott in the past, but i'm happy to believe it's me and not him

I've never not liked his stuff but Luxury Problems this ain't.

I didn't really get it either, but the only Stott I've truly loved has been Luxury Problems

the zebra centipede bothers me